Japan Draws Up Guidelines for N-Power Plant Reconstruction

Tokyo, Dec. 8 (Jiji Press)--Japan's industry ministry Thursday drew up guidelines to enable the maximum use of nuclear power plants through reconstruction and operating life extensions.

The guidelines mark a big change in the government's nuclear energy policy, under which a freeze has been placed on new construction and reconstruction of nuclear plants since the March 2011 triple meltdown at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s <9501> Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

The government plans to finalize the guidelines, aimed at supporting efforts to secure stable electricity supplies and realize carbon neutrality, at a meeting of the green transformation implementation council, headed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, by year-end.

The guidelines note that the government will promote the development and construction of innovative next-generation reactors with new safety mechanisms.

After the adoption of the guidelines, the government will first consider replacing decommissioned reactors with new ones.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]